This week’s Yorkshire appointments: Featuring Blacks Solicitors and ABL Business

This week’s round-up of Yorkshire appointments includes Blacks Solicitors, ABL Business, Preston Baker and Brewster Bye. Read on to find out more…

(L - R): Conor Tobin, Christina Donos, Victoria Adamson, Tom Moyes, Emily Owston, Chris Millen, Crystal Pay and Sophie Whittaker - Blacks Solicitors

Blacks Solicitors continues to support the career development of legal talent after retaining four newly qualified Solicitors and offering four training contracts in its 2023 intake. Three of the newly qualified Solicitors have qualified into the Real Estate team; Conor Tobin, Victoria Adamson and Annie-May Dyson.

Victoria and Conor were offered training contracts by the firm in 2021, while Annie-May Dyson will be one of the first people at Blacks to complete her six-year apprenticeship, subject to the results of the SQE assessment. Christina Donos has qualified into the Corporate team after being offered a training contract in 2021.

The four trainees who have been offered contracts are Sophie Whittaker and Chris Millen who are going into the Employment team, Emily Owston who will secure experience in the Wills & Probate team, and Crystal Pay who will work with the Leasehold Enfranchisement fee earners.

Tom Moyes, Training Partner at Blacks Solicitors, commented: “We are always on the lookout for up and coming legal talent and having so many options available, from training contracts to apprenticeships, means that we can widen the net when it comes to attracting people to a career in the law.

“I want to offer my congratulations to Christina, Conor, Victoria and Annie-May in successfully qualifying, and I wish all our trainees success in the coming months as they work across different teams and in their future careers.”

Luke Rodgers - ABL Business

ABL Business, a financial consultancy and accounting firm, has announced the promotion of Luke Rodgers to the position of Associate Director. This promotion comes after nine years of dedicated service, during which Luke has grown from an Apprentice, embarking on his AAT Accountancy Qualification, to a ‘vital and influential’ team member.

Luke’s journey at ABL Business began as an ambitious and driven apprentice, eager to kickstart his career in the world of finance and accounting. Over the years, he has showcased unwavering commitment, determination, and a deep passion for the industry.

As Associate Director, Luke will take on an even more pivotal role within the firm, contributing to strategic decision-making, leadership, and guiding the next generation of financial professionals. His extensive knowledge and experience will continue to be an asset to the firm and its clients.

Andy Redman, MD of ABL Business, commented: “I am extremely pleased to announce Luke’s promotion to Associate Director. His journey at ABL Business is an inspiring example of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication.

“Luke has been a valuable asset to our team for nearly a decade, and his promotion is a reflection of his commitment to both his own growth and our company’s success. We are confident that he will excel in his new role.”

Tom Kirk - Preston Baker

Award-winning Yorkshire estate agent Preston Baker has made a major new appointment in Tom Kirk, it’s new CEO, and he is intent on expanding the company and its self-employed Associate model nationally, bringing an exceptional home moving service to a wider audience.

Tom, a ‘passionate’ estate agency professional with a strong industry pedigree, is excited to join Preston Baker at a time when it has recently transitioned from an employed agency to a fully self-employed model, with a growing team of self-employed Associates.

Tom commented: “I am intensely passionate and committed to providing home movers with the highest standard of estate agency service and this is best achieved with the low volume, high service, personal approach, supported by market-leading technology, that Preston Baker delivers with its new self-employed Associate model.

“The support provided to Preston Baker Associates through marketing, technology, mentoring and leadership training, is second-to-none and allows them to concentrate on doing the job of looking after home movers and delivering a premium service, and I am really looking forward to expanding the company further, and recruiting more high calibre Associates.

“Preston Baker is a well-established brand with a fabulous reputation and I am looking to enhance and develop this further.”

Welcoming Tom, Preston Baker Group CEO Ian Preston added: “Tom brings a wealth of agency experience with him that we know will be invaluable in taking Preston Baker Estate Agency to the next level and driving our expansion plans. We are thrilled to have him join us.”

(L - R): Denisa Popeanga, Max Townend, Scott Morrison and Sam Tipping - Brewster Bye

Leeds based architecture practice, Brewster Bye, has expanded its team with four new appointments across all levels.

Scott Morrison has joined the firm as an architect and has spent the past five years working for a Harrogate based architecture practice, after graduating from Dundee University with a master’s degree in architecture in 2018. During his career to date, he has worked on numerous projects in the commercial, retail and residential sectors.

Both Denisa Popeanga and Sam Tipping have joined as part 2 architectural assistants. The pair both graduated this summer with master’s degrees in architecture, with Denisa studying at the University of Huddersfield and Sam at Leeds Beckett University.

In 2021 Sam won the Part 2 Commendation Prize at The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Yorkshire Student Awards and has also spent 12 months working on logistics projects at a local architecture practice.

Max Townend has also joined Brewster Bye as a part 1 architectural assistant. Max graduated this summer with a first-class BA (hons) in architecture from The University of Huddersfield.

Mark Henderson, a director from Brewster Bye, commented: “These four appointments will strengthen our team and everyone has hit the ground running, working on a variety of residential projects.

“These range from city centre apartment developments to refurbishment projects on behalf of private developers, as well as affordable housing projects and large-scale specialist housing developments for people in later life.”

Send your submissions to: editor@bdaily.co.uk with ‘APPOINTMENT:’ In the subject.

Submissions should:

  • include the name and job title of the appointee and the business name
  • be no longer than six paragraphs/250 words
  • include a landscape photograph of the appointee
  • include a quote
  • detail the respective businesses social media handles.

Appointments are published entirely at the discretion of the Bdaily team. Submission does not guarantee publication.


By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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